E13453 Feb. 26, 2012 – Japanese Soldier Surrenders After Holding Out 29 Years In Jungle. Hiroo Onoda, a Japanese World War II straggler who refused to surrender until he received the order to do so from his superior officer, and held-out for 29 years in the jungle of Lubang Island of the Philippines was flown back to Tokyo after his former commander persuaded him to surrender